Detached

youth work
TRAIN’s detached youth work is a unique and radical way of working with young people that has been at the heart of the organization since its inception. Unlike the traditional youth club, where young people have to come to us, we go to them, interacting with young people wherever they choose to meet.

TRAIN’s youth workers and volunteers are out on the streets three nights a week, building trusting relationships and engaging them in an open and non-judgemental manner to support them in any way we can. We encourage young people to talk about the issues that are most relevant to them … anything from their interests and hobbies and politics to drugs and alcohol and relationships.

In addressing these topics we encourage young people to voice their views and challenge them to explore their values, attitudes and actions in relation to the world around them. As relationships develop, we begin to see the real needs of young people and work with them to meet these needs.

This could be setting up a 5-a-side football team, helping them prepare for a job interview, signposting them to another local organisation or provision to address specific concerns, or responding to a personal crisis. We are always flexible and responsive to ever-changing situations.